The article that
@BackCountryGirl posted about the role that travel can have in spreading the virus was pretty eye opening. Reposting it here.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive...onavirus-close-borders-travel-quarantine.html
I agree that, like wearing a mask, the decision to travel is a personal decision. The difference is that not wearing a mask is generally met with oppobrium because most people have been educated about the science of mask wearing. But it doesn’t mean that frequent cross state travel is the “right” thing to do either from a public health perspective!
The unfortunate fact is that social messaging about travel’s role in spreading the virus has been inconsistent at best because our government officials don’t want to totally throw the tourism and hospitality industries under the bus. I definitely urge people to read the NY Times article; it makes a pretty convincing case.
I don't want to belabor the point or continue/escalate the argument. I will not be posting in this thread further. I only want to clarify several things:
- I have not traveled anywhere interstate or even within the state I reside in since February, followed all of the regulations for my state. I might travel this winter, if the COVID spread has not increased or is reduced. The emphasis is on might, not that I will.
- I was not encouraging frequent interstate travel or said it is acceptable. I said that perhaps occasional travel may be ok if the infection rates continue to go down and travel regulations are adhered to, such as 14-day quarantine or negative COVID test required for entry. Of course one does not have to agree with me.
- I have read the NYTimes article when it was first posted. It applies to the time around March and immediately after. I think a lot is different now. That is not to say there is no public health risk associated with travel. I think it is lower now then it was in March or April for example, IMHO of course.
- I do not think that occasional travel with all precautions and regulations followed is equitable as a public health risk to not wearing a mask in public place, IMHO of course. Though of course any travel now is a potential risk from public health and personal standpoint. I was not stating otherwise.
- There were very few scientific peer-reviewed publications of COVID spread on planes, most have happened before April when the necessary precautions and regulations were not in place. I have recently read them. I have a Ph.D. in immunology (not infections disease but cancer immunotherapy) and currently lead cancer and autoimmune disease drug discovery programs in a large pharmaceutical company. I think I have enough scientific knowledge to understand and interpret the science in those publications.
- Several of my fellow scientists with graduate degrees in biomedical research including a former colleague who as MD/Ph.D. pulmonologist currently working in ICU traveled interstate safely and following the rules. So to me the occasional travel following regulations is acceptable level of risk, at least currently. It could change. Again one does not have to agree with me and not to repeat others but traveling is a highly personal decision currently.
I respect others' opinions and don't want to argue further, just wanted to clarify my view on this and where I was coming from.